Fighting Tory privatisation at Bromley council

Members of the Unite union at Tory-run Bromley Council in south London held two days of strikes from Tuesday of this week.

The workers are opposing privatisation of services, cuts to pay and conditions and attacks on union facility time.

Unite accused the council of wanting “to privatise everything it does not have a legal duty to provide directly”.

Despite holding around £130 million in reserves the Tories plan to farm out most council services and outsource around 90 percent of 3,000 staff. Unite regional officer Onay Kasab said, “We believe that private outsourcing companies would then employ staff on much reduced pay and terms and conditions.”

Workers took selective action at different times in libraries, adult services and parks.

A one-hour strike involving all staff was set for Wednesday of this week.